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The Definition of Poverty Essay - 644 Words

What are the definitions of poor and poverty? Many people hear the words poverty and have different meanings, so how do we know which definition and I poor is the correct one? According to many people poverty may mean a person who does not have any money to do the things they want to do, however most people can afford to live only on the things they truly need. This is just one example; there are many other definitions of the word poverty. Then what do people consider to be the meaning of the word poor? Some may say poor is not having enough money for that extra something at the supermarket or at the mall. What exactly are the true definitions of each word, and how do you tell the words apart and how do you know what to†¦show more content†¦So how do we know that both of these are true meanings of the word poverty? It could also be an educated guess as the word poor. I believe we must take the learned definitions of each word and merge them with our own opinions and th e situations in which they are used to come to an accurate definition. In the beginning of my research of the word poor I had just thought that the word meant not having anything, digging through garbage for food and living in the streets. I always thought about the children advertised on the television that had no food and were nothing but skin and bones; however in my research using the (OED) I found the word poor can mean many different things like having only few materials needing the things that provide the comforts or the nessecities needed in human life so as in doing the research I have done it has changed my mind a little and in a way has me confused about the true meaning of the two words. As I have described poor in the last paragraph I have also thought about the meanin of the word poverty and how closely the two definitions are related they both mean to me having little or nothing, not having the nessecities needed in life they both mean having little or no wealth, the y can also mean having poor condition of the body. I believe that is why the English language is so distinctShow MoreRelatedThe Definition of Poverty554 Words   |  2 PagesGordon (2007) twelve clusters of meaning of poverty evidently proved how the definition of poverty seems difficult to be established, the debates on poverty have been bedeviled by an artificial formalism, which insists that there is only one agreed meaning of poverty. However poverty does not attract a single meaning. For him, poverty is commonly understood in at least twelve discrete senses, which are logically separated: The first meaning denotes poverty as a material concept: individuals are attributedRead MoreDefinition Of Classism And Poverty1573 Words   |  7 PagesDefinition of Classism and Poverty: Classism is a discrimination based on your social class, but it’s more than that, it’s shunning a fraction of people because they are a different class, it is an inequality in what it is to live. This is a colossal issue that impacts millions and this directly ties into billions through poverty. I may be going on and on about poverty, but you may not know what it is and so you may not know how massive of an issue it is. Poverty is being in a state of such lackRead MoreThe Definition Of Poverty On The Number Of Adults And Children1518 Words   |  7 PagesThe definition of poverty hinges on the number of adults and children in the family. Based on income in the United States in 2015, roughly, poverty lines as the weighted average poverty thresholds for family with one person, two people and three people, are 12,082, 15,391, and 18,871 dollars, respectively [1]. Poverty rate differs between race and Hispanic origin, age, and sex, disability status, and other societal characteristics, including immigration status, region, and work experience. The realRead MoreHow Has The Definition Of Poverty Changed Over Time?896 Words   |  4 PagesHow has the definition of poverty changed over time? The definition of poverty has changed overtime because it is defined in several ways. The basic needs perspective defines poverty â€Å"as the lack of resources to fulfill basic human needs including food, health, and education. The capabilities perspective defines poverty as the absence of opportunities to achieve capabilities to be sheltered, well nourished, adequately clothed, healthy, and active in the community† (Chapin, 2014, p.308). This perspectiveRead Moresociety poverty has various definitions that lack the true picture that poverty depicts. Dictionary500 Words   |  2 Pagessociety poverty has various definitions that lack the true picture that poverty depicts. Dictionary defines poverty as â€Å"the state of one who lacks a usual or socially acceptable amount of money on material possessions.† In other words poverty is a situation where a person fail to earn a sufficient amount of income to purchase basic necessities such as food, shelter, clothes etc. In reality, poverty is much more than the capital resources. According to Laster Brown explained poverty as â€Å"the worldRead MorePoverty Is A Global Concern And Its Eradication1376 Words   |  6 Pages Poverty is a global concern and its eradication is becoming surmountable. This is primarily due to the challenges posed by international and national causes respectively. Besides, the complexity of the phenomenon has not lend itself to be easily eradicated. Little wonder the world continues to struggle to eradicate poverty. Africa is one of the poorest countries on the universe and research and data show that Sierra Leone is one of the poorest countries in Sub-Sahara (UNDP, 2015). Sierra Leone’sRead MorePoverty and Destitution1299 Words   |  6 PagesDefining Poverty Poverty has been defined in many different ways. Some attempt to reduce it to numbers, while others believe that a more vague definition must be used. In the end, a combination of both methods is best. DiNitto and Cummins (2007), in their book â€Å"Social Welfare, Politics and Public Policy,† present six definitions and explanations of poverty. Social reformers Webb and Webb (1911) present another angle on poverty. Essentially, all definitions are correct, the debate is of whichRead MorePoverty Is A Problem That Affects Millions Of People On A Daily Basis1387 Words   |  6 PagesPoverty is a problem that affects millions of people on a daily basis. It is a topic that has been highly debated for many years in politics, between academics and with regular people. The problem that is debated is how to define it, how it should measure and who should be able to dictate these things. A broad definition of poverty is â€Å"the state of having little or no money, goods, or the means of support† (http://dictionary.reference.com). Poverty can be said to have many different definitions butRead MorePovertyin the World811 Words   |  3 PagesPoverty evokes various definitions depending on the audience and perhaps the purpose or context that it is used. Limiting the definition of poverty to a ‘value judgment’ is of little use in terms of agreeing on a definition for the purpose of comparison and measurement between groups (Sen 1979, p.285). A clear definition of poverty supports and indicates the process for measurement, and as such would also assist in determining the focus and approach for development (Clark 2012; Ruggeri, Saith Read MoreThe Cause And Causes Of Poverty1325 Words   |  6 Pagesissue of poverty. According to the Business dictionary, poverty is a â€Å"Condition where people s basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter are not being met†. Due to the serious effects and causes of poverty, it has always been an imp ortant issue throughout the world. Causes of poverty vary from country to country but the biggest and most common causes are things such as national debt., disabilities, health issues, war, social inequality, lack of education, and natural resources. Poverty comes with

Taxation Law Incidence of Major Australian Taxes

Questions: 1. Calculate the Medicare levy and Medicare levy surcharge payable for the year ended 30 June 2016 for the following taxpayers? (a) An Australian resident, aged 25 years, with a taxable income of $18,000.(b) An Australian resident, eligible for a Seniors tax offset, with a taxable income of $32,000.(c) An Australian resident, aged 45 years, with a taxable income of $45,000.(d) A taxpayer who is not a resident for tax purposes, with a taxable income of $45,000.(e) An Australian company with a taxable income of $2,500,000.(f) An Australian resident, aged 45 years, with a taxable income of $110,000, holding private health insurance.(g) An Australian resident, aged 45 years, with a taxable income of $110,000, and no private health insurance.(h) An Australian resident with a taxable income of $150,000, holding private health insurance for 90 days of the income year.(i) Victor and his wife are Australian residents. Victor has a taxable income of $110,000 and his wife Jackie a taxable income of $75,000. They have no children and no private health insurance.(j) An Australian couple have four children and no private h ospital health insurance. What would be the familys minimum Medicare levy surcharge threshold? 2. You client, Rob, has the following income and deductions for the financial year ended 30 June 2015: salary, $32,000; bank interest received, $150; and allowable deductions for special work clothing, $450. Robs employer has deducted $2600 as PAYG tax from his salary during the year? 3. During the current income year Rafael, a resident taxpayer, has a gross salary of $68,000 (PAYG tax withheld $15,100), a fully franked dividend of $2,000, an unfranked dividend of $1,000, and a 60% franked dividend of $900? Answers: 1(A). Statement of Medicare Levy and Medicare surcharge payable Particulars Amount ($) Taxable Income 18,000.00 Medicare Levy 0 Medicare Levy Surcharge 0 Medicare Levy and Surcharge 0 B. Statement of Medicare Levy and Medicare surcharge payable Particulars Amount ($) Taxable Income 32,000.00 Medicare Levy 0 Medicare Levy Surcharge 0 Medicare Levy and Surcharge 0 C. Statement of Medicare Levy and Medicare surcharge payable Particulars Amount ($) Taxable Income 45000.00 Medicare Levy 900.00 Medicare Levy Surcharge 0.00 Medicare Levy and Surcharge 900.00 D. Statement of Medicare Levy and Medicare surcharge payable Particulars Amount ($) Taxable Income 45000.00 Medicare Levy 0.00 Medicare Levy Surcharge 0.00 Medicare Levy and Surcharge 0.00 E. Statement of Medicare Levy and Medicare surcharge payable Particulars Amount ($) Taxable Income 25,00,000.00 Medicare Levy 0.00 Medicare Levy Surcharge 0.00 Medicare Levy and Surcharge 0.00 F. Statement of Medicare Levy and Medicare surcharge payable Particulars Amount ($) Taxable Income $ 1,10,000.00 Medicare Levy $ 2,200.00 Medicare Levy Surcharge 0 Medicare Levy and Surcharge $ 2,200.00 G. Statement of Medicare Levy and Medicare surcharge payable Particulars Amount ($) Taxable Income 110000.00 Medicare Levy 2200.00 Medicare Levy Surcharge 27.50 Medicare Levy and Surcharge 2227.50 H. Statement of Medicare Levy and Medicare surcharge payable Particulars Amount ($) Taxable Income 150000.00 Medicare Levy 3000.00 Medicare Levy Surcharge 45.00 Medicare Levy and Surcharge 3045.00 I. Statement of Medicare Levy and Medicare surcharge payable Particulars Amount ($) Taxable Income 110000.00 Medicare Levy 2200.00 Medicare Levy Surcharge 33.00 Medicare Levy and Surcharge 2233.00 J. Statement of Minimum threshold Particulars Amount ($) Minimum threshold (A) 900000.00 Threshold increase per child 1500.00 Number of child after the first child 3.00 Total increase in threshold (B) 4500.00 Total Minimum Threshold (A+B) 904500.00 3. Computation of Rob Income For the year ended 30 June 2015 Particulars Amt ($) Net Salary 32000 Add: Bank Interest Received 150 Add: Pay G 2600 Total Income 34750 Less: Deductions 450 Taxable Income under 4-15 ITAA 1997 34300 Taxable Payable under ITRA 1986 3059 Medicare levy 686 Less: Pay G 2600 Tax payable 1145 4. Computation of Rafael Income For the year ended ... Particulars Amt ($) Assessable Income 68000 Fully franked dividend Franking credit 600 Unfranked Credit 1400 60% Franked Dividend Franking credit 162 Unfranked Credit 738 Unfranked Dividend 1000 Total Income 71900 Taxable Income under 4-15 ITAA 1997 71900 Tax on taxable income 14914.5 Medicare Levy 1438 Franking credit 762 PAYG 15100 Total Tax Payable 490.50 References Barkoczy, S., 2016. Foundations of Taxation Law 2016.OUP Catalogue. Cao, L., Hosking, A., Kouparitsas, M., Mullaly, D., Rimmer, X., Shi, Q., Stark, W. and Wende, S., 2015. Understanding the economy-wide efficiency and incidence of major Australian taxes.Treasury WP,1. Eckermann, S. and Sheridan, L., 2016. Supporting Medicare Health, Equity and Efficiency in Australia: Policies Undermining Bulk Billing Need to Be Scrapped.Applied health economics and health policy,14(5), pp.511-514. Hayward, R., 2014.Valuation: principles into practice. Taylor Francis. Miller, A. and Oats, L., 2016.Principles of international taxation. Bloomsbury Publishing. Snape, J. and De Souza, J., 2016.Environmental taxation law: policy, contexts and practice. Routledge.

The Ayckbourn sting Essay Example For Students

The Ayckbourn sting Essay Unofficially, and without ever planning it, the city of Seattle has become the site of an Alan Ayckbourn performance festival. Three theatres have independently slated Ayckbourn productions running into the fall, including Seattle Childrens Theatres Invisible Friends, and Intiman Theatre Companys How the Other Half Loves. The major theatres have gotten into a slapjack game over the prolific Britishers plays, waiting for rights to come available and grabbing them when they can. One of the consistent winners is A Contemporary Theatre, which scores a minor coup with its upcoming American premiere of Ayckbourns two-part The Revengers Comedies. We will write a custom essay on The Ayckbourn sting specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now That an English-to-the-core playwright who works exclusively out of his home theatre in Scarborough has become a box-office draw in Seattle may seem striking but the fact is that Ayckbourns plays have regularly taken root in the most unlikely soil. As the playwright himself puts it, The British critics are really perplexed at the way the work seems to have traveled, and I just say, |Well, I write about human relationships, really, and most of these countries have human beings in them. Its different customs that disguise behavior. ACT artistic director Jeff Steitzer, who is staging The Revengers Comedies July 18-Aug. 30, finds Ayckbourns stateside status very odd, a case of mistaken identification as the English Neil Simon. Ayckbourn lures the audience in order to push some uncomfortable truths, he suggests. His plays are very, very funny, but his characters are all painfully recognizable. And they fit the ACT ensemble very well, he adds, particularly actors known for what he calls the Seattle style. I think were talking about a certain comic sensibility, says Steitzer. In other plays it can be a stumbling block for Seattle actors. You just dont see the kinds of things, for instance, that the Steppenwolf company does in Chicago   that visceral, dynamic, proletarian style. Seattle is headier, and people look at things with a comic eye, even if theres a dark strain running through it. Thats as apt a description of The Revengers Comedies as it is of the companys approach to playing it. The practical side of the production will be at least as challenging as finding the right seriocomic tone   the play is shown in two parts, which means getting the audience in for both a matinee and evening performance, or on successive dates. The tech crew has assistance from Ayckbourn himself, who has supplied the theatre with his own recording of the plays 100-plus sound cues. He puts a high premium on engaging the audiences active, imaginative participation, Steitzer says. ACTs history with Ayckbourn extends back to the 1970s, when the writer found his plays being described as frothy little dramas and dazzling champagne cocktails of enjoyment. He has since started pouring heavier spirits in the glasses, and ACT audiences have been happily lapping up the resultant brew   such recent productions as Woman in Mind (1989) and A Chorus of Disapproval (1988). Steitzer intends to be ready when the next opportunity for Ayckbourn comes along and the wait isnt likely to be long. Ayckbourns schedule has produced plays on a yearly basis, along with works for young audiences (plays between plays he calls them). Whatever Ayckbourn writes, its virtually guaranteed performance in Seattle. Now if only he could find the time to visit.

A History of World in Six Glasses free essay sample

How might beer have influenced the transition from hunting and gathering to agricultural-based societies. Beer might have/had influenced the transition from hunting and gathering to agricultural-based societies. One way beer could have done this was that after the discovery of beer, the demand for beer began to increase. With increase demand for beer, farming would increase taking away time to hunt and gather for food. With less hunting and gathering, farmers eventually settled down in small areas around the Fertile Crescent to create beer. What does the story of beer tell you about social and gender roles in ancient SW Asia and Egypt? Beer can tell us a story about the social and gender roles in ancient South West Asia and Egypt. During these times, beer was used as a way of payment. Those who were given more, worked more, or had higher positions. Sumerian temple workforces were given sila of beer a day; or two American pints. We will write a custom essay sample on A History of World in Six Glasses or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Junior officials were given two sila, higher officials and ladies of the court were given three sila, and the highest officials were given five. Woman who worked a few days at a temple were given two silas. This system meant that women were given a change for jobs, and even were sometimes given more silas than men. The social and gender roles in ancient South West Asia and Egypt are therefore seem as fair, since women were given just as much or more sila than men. How important do you think beer was in the growth and diffusion of the earliest civilizations? Would the earliest civilizations of SW Asia and Egypt have been as prosperous without the discovery of beer? I think beer was an important factor in the growth and diffusion of the earliest civilizations. This is because beer led to the development of an agricultural-based society. Without the discovery of beer, who knows how long it would have taken early civilizations in the Paleolithic era realized that farming would be better and faster than hunting and gathering. With increase farming for grains, leftovers grains were made into bread, or cereals, or beer. Leftovers soon became surpluses and surpluses of food led to population increase. With larger populations, villages became communities and societies were created. Earliest civilizations of South West Asia and Egypt would have been as prosperous without the discovery of beer, only their prosperity would take longer than usual. This is because, civilizations would have to wait for their main food supplies to decrease to finally figure out other ways of gaining food. But earliest civilizations would still be prosperous. Wine in Greece an d Rome (Chapters 3 and 4) What does the story of wine tell you about wine tell you about social and gender roles in the Mediterranean world? The story of wine can tell us about the social and gender roles in Mediterranean worlds. Private drinking parties known as symposiums was an all male aristocratic ritual that took place in a special mens room (man cave). Women were not allowed to sit with men in these men rooms, giving us the reader the impression that women could either not drink wine like Greek men or that gender discrimination was intact during these times. But female servers, dancers, and musicians were allowed, but why? Perhaps because men did not see female servers, dancers, and musicians as nothing but merely entertainment and slaves. Explain how the symposia and wine-drinking related to the development of ancient Greece (as compared to the other parts of the world). Symposia and wine-drinking related to the development of ancient Greece. One way was that symposia was a good way for men to come together and plot, drink, boast, and debate. Symposia was a way for men to get together and discuss many issues; where each and every men were equal in voice. Symposium was in theory, a forum in which the participants drank as equals from a shared crater. Wine-drinking on the other hand created the caste system for ancient Greece. Those who could afford top notch wine such as Falernian. The better wine you drank, meant the more money you made to purchase the wine, thus creating your caste in society. What effects does wine have on the development of Christianity and Islam? The banning of wine in Islamic culture would be the basic start for the banning of many other foods. The prophet Muhammads ban on alcohol is said to have started from a fight between two men who were under the influence. When Muhammad sought divine help from the one and only Allah, Allahs reply was to ban alcohol so that such a thing could not happen again. As for wine, it had a different story for the development of Christianity. Wine drinking was a tradition of Greeks and Romans. When barbarians took over Rome and Greece, wine drinking seemed to have halted. But as time went on, barbarians began to take up wine drinking again, sort of assimilating themselves into Greek culture. Barbarians soon became civilized, all thanks to the tradition of wine drinking. Spirits in the Colonial Period (Chapters 5 and 6) How did spirits advance/accelerated colonialism? When the Americas were just beginning to form, spirits accelerated their colonialism. At first, sugarcane production was introduced to the Western Indies or Caribbean Islands by Christopher Columbus. The West Indies land was not suitable to grow wine vines or grains for beer, instead Columbus introduced sugar canes to the Indies, creating a major sugar plantation in the West Indies. With the plantation growing, slaves were being imported from West Africa to help with the production of sugar. With more sugar being produced, more products could be made and thus more exports to England, Spain, France, and Germany. Having a staple crop, successful exports, sprits helped colonized anywhere it touched. In the 18th century, how did spirits change the balance of power amongst the western European nations? When rum was first discovered, Americas learned that to produce rum was cheaper than relying on European exports for Brady. Rum was discovered by using left over sugar production. Everyone could afford rum, from the slaves to the rich. With rum now being established as Americans favorite drink, European exports for Brandy began to decline. New England merchants began to import raw molasses rather than rum and do the distilling themselves. In 1733, a new law known as the Molasses Act was passed in London, prohibiting the amount of imported molasses into North America to sixpence a gallon. But Americans did not obey the law and smuggled molasses instead of buying them from Britain. England began to create more laws to limit the amount of molasses brought, but Americans would not listen and thus finally giving Americas the idea of their freedom. How did spirits help in the building and shaping of early America? During their fight for freedom, Americans began to turn their backs on rum and began to drink whiskey, since it was cheaper to make and easy to produce. Rum played a crucial part of the triangular trade between Britain, Africa, and the North American colonies that once dominated the Atlantic economy. Whiskey though on the other hand helped shaped America through disagreements and fights. Whiskey was an unpretentious drink associated with independence and self-sufficiency. Coffee in the Age of Reason (Chapters 7 and 8) Why did coffee become known to Europeans as the antithesis of alcohol? And how will this change the intellectual development of Europe? Coffee was known to Europeans as the antithesis of alcohol because instead of getting drunk and losing self control, coffee was known to keep on minds open and create new rationalism. This changed the intellectual developement of Europe because scholars, doctors, lawyers, and teachers drank coffee instead of wine. Instead of getting drunk in the daytime or nighttime, people would be up drinking coffee and beginning their day with an open mind instead of a closed mind. Was coffee the first true global beverage? Why or why not? Coffee was truly the first global beverage. Beginning in the Arab world, coffee was originated in the Arabia. From Mocha, coffee spread to Egypt and North Africa, and by the 16th century, it had reached the rest of the Middle East, Persia and Turkey. From the Middle East, coffee drinking spread to Italy, then to the rest of Europe, and coffee plants were transported by the Dutch to the East Indies and to the Americas. How (and why) did coffee play a pivotal role in the Enlightenment and French Revolution? During the period in which coffee became popular, coffee played a pivotal role in the Enlightenment and French Revolution. Coffee was a popular drink which forced coffee houses to spring out of the ground. Coffee houses were like taverns back them. Anyone was allowed inside a coffeehouse, as long as they could afford a cup. Inside coffee houses, meetings would take place for practically anything. Government officials had no say nor clue in what was said inside coffee houses, plans would be plotted, schemes would be set, and eventually wars would break out. Along those meetings inside coffee houses, coffee was the drink of scholars, doctors, lawyers, and solicitations. Enlightenment ideas sprang out because of these people. People would talk about a change in the system while sipping on a cup of coffee. Or talk about their recent discoveries. Coffee was the drink of the wise. Tea and the British Empire (Chapters 9 and 10) Why was tea important to Chinas economy, and how did it affect Chinas relationships with other countries? Tea would not become a domestic drink in society until the 1st century BC and cultivation for mass quantities didn’t occur until the 4th century. During this period, known as the Tang Dynasty, China found itself the wealthiest and most populated nation in the world, in part due to their openness to outside influence. It was also during this time that tea found itself as the drink of choice by the nation. Explain the relationship between tea and the Industrial Revolution and the expansion of the British Empire. The industrial revolution used raw materials and manufactured them into a final product. The manufactured product secured more money in the world market than the raw materials, and thus led to more money for the British Empire. The ability to manufacture these goods gave the empire the control to manage the supply and demand of the good and set the price in the world market far above the cost of the raw materials and labor included in its making. Compare and contrast how the British trade in tea affect America and India. In the United States, the British trade helped create the Industrial Revolution. Textile manufacturing soon came into place. Workers were replaced with machinery that could do a job of ten men in less time. Having workers and machines together under one roof meant that the whole process could be closely supervised. But the tea trade soon took its toll, with new laws coming into place in the United States, many citizens were unhappy. The Boston Tea Party of 1773, serves as a protest to the overpriced tea. Soon enough, the British tea trade would led to the United States breaking away from their motherland. The East India Companys fortunes revived in 1784, when the duty on tea imports to Britain were slashed, which lowered the price of legal tea. In India, the search for the most suitable part of India to grow tea began. Since the new India tea industry would require a lot of manpower, this provided plenty of jobs for Indian workers. Tea cultivation also promised to be hugely profitable. In comparison, both America and India profited from the British tea trade. But unlike India, America was taxed and thus leading to riots and outbreaks over tea. In the end, America was able to break away from their motherland and buy their tea for a reasonable price. As for India, profits were made that benefited the country. Coco-Cola and the Rise of America (Chapters 11 and 12) How does the story of Coca-Cola relate to the rise of capitalism and entrepreneurship in the 19th and early 20th century? How does the story show a larger global economic shift? The story of Coca-Cola relates to the rise of capitalism and entrepreneurship. Capitalism is when an economic and political system in which a countrys trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit. Entrepreneurship or an entrepreneur is someone who organizes a business venture and assumes the risk for it. In 1886 pharmacist John Stith Pemberton sold about nine Coca-Colas a day. During the 1870s, Pemberton was declared bankrupt and was fired twice which destroyed his stocks. Finally, in 1884, Pemberton started using a new ingredient: coca. After Pembertons death, Asa Candler took over the company. Candler was opposed to the idea of selling coca-cola in a bottle, but in July 1899 granted two businessmen, Benjamin Thomas and Joseph Whitehead the right to bottle and sell coca-cola, resulting to the famous drink that we all love/or hate today. During the Great Depression, the Cold War, and WWI and WWII, rather than shrink at the challenge, Coca-Cola took full advantage of the challenging times it found itself in, gaining a global phenomenon. Soon enough, the United States was producing and shipping coca-cola all over the world to soldiers, to different countries. How did Coca-Cola become the worlds most recognized product? The first marketing efforts in Coca-Cola history were executed through coupons promoting free samples of the beverage. Considered an innovative tactic back in 1887, couponing was followed by newspaper advertising and the distribution of promotional items bearing the Coca-Cola script to participating pharmacies. As the country mobilized into World War Two, Robert Woodruff, president of the Coca-cola company, issued an order that every man in uniform gers a bottle of Coca-Cola for five cents, whereever he ism and whatever it costs the company. (Page251) But shipping bottles of Coca-cola halfway around the world to every whereever troops were stationwas was very inefficient, thus special fountains and bottling plants were placed whereever possible. Soon enough, where ever the troops went, a Coca-Cola bottling plant was created. How does Coca-Cola affect peoples views of the United States? Is the spread of Coca-Cola an example of Americanization around the world? In some parts of the world, Coca-Cola was welcomed, but in other parts of the world drinking Coca-Cola was considered a sin. In Germany and Japan, people stated that Coca-Cola was an example of everything that was wrong with the United States. But even enemies of the United States, such as the Sovient Union, still wanted Coca-Colas to drink. Coca-Cola affect the views of people in good and bad ways. The Tibet Muslims, in protest against Coca-Cola, poured gallons of Coca-Cola on the streets. I believe that the spread of Coca-Cola is an example of Americanization around the world. Coca-Cola bottling plants brought in new machinery into differnt countries, showing these countries new technology. All around the world, Coca-Cola is served with any side dish. Wherever you go, whatever lanuage you speak, if you ask for a Coca-Cola anyone will know what you are talking about. EpilogueBack to the Source Do you agree of disagree with Standages argument in the epilogue? Will water be the most influential beverage in shaping the global situation of the next 100+ years? Why or why not? I agree with Standages arugument that water will be the most influential beverage in shaping the world. This is because, back then water was contaminated and no one knew how to fix that problem. Now though, water is a basic nessesity in everyones diet. Without water, many people are becoming dehydrated and dying of thrist. Water wont make you fat, has no calories, and is safe to drink. Without water, no livestock can be grown and land cannot be cultivated. Theres no food without water. With no livestock, we have no food, and with no food, we cant eat and will eventually die. Water will continue to influence and shape the world within the next 100 or so years.

10 Compare and Contrast Essay Topics on Computational Genomics

10 Compare and Contrast Essay Topics on Computational Genomics A man has always been plagued with questions about inherited traits, diseases and biological phenomena before the study of sciences was introduced in ancient Egypt. In more recent times, questions such as how the Zika virus developed, the origins of Ebola and tracing the human species to the earliest roots have dominated among the scientific discussions. And now, answering these questions and finding scientific direction in the midst of chaos has been made easy by the leaps and bounds made in the field of computational genomics. Which leads us to the question; what is computational genomics? Before writing an essay on the topic of computational genomics, it is essential to understand its definition and scientific application. Therefore, this article will focus on covering computational genomics using facts, which can also be applied in your essay writing task. Computational genomics, otherwise known as computational genetics, stands for the usage of computational and statistical analysis for dissevering biology from genome sequences and other related data. This data in combination with statistical approaches allows scientists understand the function of genes and how species’s   DNA controls its entire population. 10 Important Facts on Computational Genomics There are just two basic types of cells. Basic biology provides the foundation for the study of genetics and in terms of cell biology, the two types of basic cell types are: the eukaryotic cell, which has no nuclei and the prokaryotic cell, which consists of nuclei. Although both cell types are fundamentally similar in terms of molecular machinery, eukaryotic cells are complex multicellular organisms like fungi, while prokaryotic cells are unicellular organisms such as bacteria. Cells are storage devices for genetic information. The genetic material used by cells is formed by molecules of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). These molecules have sequential structure, which makes them function just like the average computer storage device. The mechanism for reading this information is one of the core components of all living things and is highly similar in all types of cells. This mechanism is formed by a complex of enzymes, specified by the particular instructions it must read. Gregor Mendel is credited with starting the computation genomics quest to understand plant and animal biology. The first major step in the field of genomics was taken by Gregor Mendel in 1859, when he discovered how genetic information is stored. The second major step was made in New York, when Oswald Avery and a group of biologists discovered that nucleic acid contains these sequences of information. A Genome is formed in chromosomes by DNA. A genome is the set of all DNA contained in a cell and this genome is formed by one or multiple stretches of DNA coupled together in a chromosome. Chromosomes can be linear or circular but one thing remains constant when a cell divides, chromosomes are replicated in exactly the same structure as found in their parent cell. The first DNA sequence was accomplished in 1977. The first DNA sequencing task was set in 1977 but the first complete DNA sequence for an organism was encoded in 1995 and it was the DNA of the Haemophilus Influenza bacterium. The first animal to have its genome completely sequenced was a fruit fly. It was done by Celera Genomics in 2000. The first crop plant to have its DNA sequenced is rice; it happened in 2004. In 2002, the mouse became the first mammal to have its genome sequenced completely by scientists. James Watson is the first human to have his genome sequenced. The 21st century saw an increased interest to the computational genomics and the race to sequence the human DNA intensified in 2000. The first successful step was completing the haplotype map of the human genome in 2005. The second milestone was the completed haploid genomic sequencing of James Watson’s genome in 2007. The first diploid human genome to be sequenced was that of Craig Venter in 2007. The first synthetic genome was recreated in 2008. The Craig Venter group that successfully sequenced the first human diploid genome also succeeded in the complete chemical synthesizing, assembly and cloning of the Mycoplasma Genitalium bacteria’s genome. This was a key step towards creating a complete organism. Consequently, Craig Venter was named among the Time-100 most influential persons on earth. Cancer genomes were analyzed in 2009. In 2009, the field of computational genomics recorded a milestone in understanding and managing debilitating diseases with the complete analysis of the cancer genome. This comprehensive analysis successfully analyzed the genomes of lung cancer and malignant melanoma. This success led to the launch of the UK10K program which intends to computationally compare the genomes of 4,000 healthy individuals against 6,000 sick individuals. A genome browser is a place where you can search for completely analyzed sequences exits. With the hope of building an organized platform for the computational genomics community, the UCSC genome browser was built. It allows reputable sources submit established genomic sequence results and provides the public with access to check these analyses. The browser has the URL www.genome.ucsc.edu. This platform was built by the University of California, Santa Cruz Mathematics plays a key role in the field of computational genomics. Pursuing a profession in computational genomics is an admirable venture, which requires the student to have a high level of mathematical and statistical knowledge to succeed. Scientist in this field constantly makes use of data analytics software applications such as Matlab to compute information. This means some love to technical applications and data analytics is recommended. Here we come to the end of some important facts we believe will serve you in good stead if writing a compare and contrast essay on computational genomics is given to you as an assignment. These facts are just a tip of the iceberg as other complimentary articles covering topics such as tips for a compare and contrast essay guide on computational genomics coupled with 20 compare and contrast essay topics on computational genomics will make writing excellently on this subject an easy task. References: Sequencing cancer genomes to tailor treatments to individual patients. (2014). The Pharmaceutical Journal. Saey, T. (2010). Genes Cells: RNA Harnessed to Control Cells: Genetic Devices could thwart Cancer and Signal Infections. Science News, 178(13), pp.13-13. Venter, J. (2016). Craig Venter: Critical Tools and Technologies in Synthetic Genomics. Genetic Engineering Biotechnology News, 36(7), pp.19-20. Huttley, G. (2006). Computational Genetics and Genomics: Tools for Understanding Disease. Immunology and Cell Biology, 84(1), pp.114-114. Chaudhuri, K. and Chatterjee, R. (2007). MicroRNA Detection and Target Prediction: Integration of Computational and Experimental Approaches. DNA and Cell Biology, 26(5), pp.321-337. Coller, H. (2013). Introducing the Systems Biology of Cell State Regulation section of Physiological Genomics. Physiological Genomics, 45(11), pp.407-408. Kamlesh Jangid, O. (2015). Preservation of Uncultivated Microbial Cells for Single Cell Genomics and Cultivation in Future. Single Cell Biology, s1.

Analysis of Tesco Christmas Advert 2014 - Lights on Essay

Analysis of Tesco Christmas Advert 2014 - Lights on - Essay Example The ad ends with a tagline â€Å"Every Little Helps Make Christmas†. Tesco seems to be shifting from its messaging, which has been price-based in the past, to focusing on customers and how the supermarket can help customers over the Christmas period (Butler & Sweney, 2014: p1). The ad seeks to celebrate Christmas and the excitement that the Christmas season brings to customer, as well as Tesco’s focus on aiding the country’s citizens in useful and fun ways. Tesco’s advertising and marketing throughout the 2014 season has been based on price, especially in promoting their money-saving schemes and lower prices. However, it has been noted that this barely helped to improve Tesco’s sales, as the supermarket has been one of the worst performers in the sector with sales dropping by 3.6% in the third quarter of 2014. As a result, their new ad has sought to focus on the customer (Butler & Sweney, 2014: p1). The Tesco advertisement can be analyzed using Cialdini’s weapons of influence, in this case using the weapons of reciprocity, social proof, and liking. Cialdini (2001; p132) identifies reciprocity as one of the weapons of influence, contending that if a request is preceded by a gift that the individual did not expect, then the marketer has a better chance of convincing potential clients. In this case, the customer will feel the importance of returning the marketer’s favour. Tesco uses scenes of their staff aiding customers visiting their supermarket to choose their Christmas decorations, which they hope customers will view as a favour and will reciprocate by buying Christmas decorations from Tesco. Social norms compel people to reciprocate a favour with another (Rodgers & Thorson, 2013: p29). As such, the narrator in the Tesco ad claims that Tesco is there to help customers every step of the way during the Christmas season, making it more likely that

Film and memory Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Film and memory - Essay Example The reaction is one which builds an emotional response among viewers to associate specifically with different events in history. The concept of form and genre in trauma films for history is defined as the type or kind of film that is able to relate to a given culture. When one uses a specific form, it is able to associate with a specific identity or connection to those who are watching the film. The category of mainstream film is one which can be used to identify specific categories and events which have occurred and which many relate to. When relaying mainstream events within the genre of drama or trauma, there is the need to create a specific relationship to an event in which every individual is already aware of. The message of the historical event also has to link with concepts such as patriotism or the main identity of the culture, specifically which creates a level of appeal to the public. The experimental or avant – garde depictions; however, can move into events with a different form of trauma or replication of history that is more historical and aesthetically fitting to a given event. However, this attracts a different group of individuals who are interested in a different perspective to the film (Langford, 2005). The depiction of history as one which creates a sense of appeal to the crowds then leads into different types of spectatorship by viewers. As the spectacle stands out with different effects and aesthetics, there is the ability to create a different sense of history that is remembered by the audience. For instance spatial definitions that take place, such as longer perspectives or close up shots, create a direct relationship to the viewer. The spectator is then able to create a specific understanding of a given event. For instance, if there is an individual who was well – known in history, then personal and close shots with the use of space are given, all which define the

It's Beginning to Hurt Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

It's Beginning to Hurt - Essay Example Having romantic relationship with several women is seen as the work of the devil, in Christianity. Stewart, the travel writer, is a happy family man, with a happy wife. Happiness in the family is key virtue, and hence supported by religions. The story illustrates the nature of opposite sex relationships (James 35). This relationship is usually sexually and hence immoral. Seduction, as illustrated in the story, encourages the evil act which in Christianity is the aim of the devil. The two characters in the story are aware of the morals of each other; however, they ignore the negative aspects of the morals. Turning a blind eye to the deeds of an individual is viewed as sin in Faustian bargain. And the negative act is favored by the devil. The Half Sister illustrates an individual who is not happy with himself and the world. He believes that he is a total failure in all aspects of the world. Plans are organized to make him marry an ugly woman (James 47). Marriage is always considered a gift; but the author illustrates the negative side of that gift, which is an ugly woman for a wife. This is the negative aspect of the

Programs to rehabilitate young offenders

Programs to rehabilitate young offenders The intent of this dissertation is to explore the current shaping of the youth justice system and also to explore the programs that are in place to help rehabilitate young offenders who have been placed in young offender institutes. This research will discuss and examine the effectiveness of these programs put in place for young people who are in custody to help prevent them from re-offending once they are in the community. In 2006 the number of prisoners under the age of 21 years in England and Wales stood at 11, 672 and 2,528 of those where children (juveniles). In the past decade or maybe more the number of children and young people entering the penal custody in England and Wales has increased very significantly. It is believed that at least 85 percent of juvenile prisoners are held in Young Offender Institutions (YOI). Young offender institutes are described as specialist penal facilities which are usually managed by the prison service. These institutions are designed for prisoners aged 15-20 years. In these institutions male juvenile prisoners these are from the ages of (15-17 years) are normally detained separately from young adult offenders those who are 18- 20 years old. There are some exceptions to this rule which can at times be applied to female juvenile prisoners (Goldson and Muncie 2006). In England and Wales there is a total of 17 young offender institutes and 13 of those establishments ar e for males and the remaining 4 are dedicated for females up to the age of 17 years (www.yjb.gov.uk ). There are so many explanations which come in to light when it comes to the rise of crime among young people. The aim of the writer is to explore and evaluate the true prevalence youth re-offending and the issues and risk factors that underpin the rehabilitation of people in custody and how effective the rehabilitation programs put in place for young people are. Firstly the literature review will consider relevant viewing the topic of the current model and thinking of the youth justice system. It will also begin by looking at the history of youth imprisonment. Chapter two will explore the programs in place for young people in custody geared towards their rehabilitation. Chapter three will describe and analyse the methodology used in acquiring data. In the fourth chapter the writer will evaluate the rehabilitative programs/the initiatives found in young offenders institutions. The writer will conclude by discussing and summarising the findings and making and future recommendations for future practice. PART TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW The main legislation governing the youth justice system is the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, which sets out the systems primary aim which is to prevent offending and re-offending by children and young people. The 1998 Act developed the Youth Justice Board and also the Youth Offending Teams which can be found in every local authority in England and Wales. It is the belief that the main aim of the youth justice system is to prevent offending and re-offending by young people and children (National Audit Office, 2010). It is said that they are four arguments which are put forward for the use of custodial sentencing for young people these are Rehabilitation, Deterrence, Incapacitation and Retribution. Bateman et al (2005) suggests that the argument for Rehabilitation is that the prison should be able to deal with the underlying problems in a way that offenders who remain in the community can not be dealt with. Deterrence it is claimed has both individual and general forms. It is suggested that the presence and use of custodial institutions will prevent young people from committing crimes that might send them to serve custodial sentences. According to the individual form it is expected that custody will discourage those who experience it from committing any more crime so they can avoid further incarceration. Incapacitation is an argument which proposes that if young people who offend are removed off the streets, then they can not offend and so youth crime will reduce. Retribution is an argument which is sometimes used as a rationale for the use of custody. The person who commits the crime is made to pay for the crime they committed. However it is the belief that there is little effect in punishment unless it changes a persons subsequent behaviour (Bateman et al, 2005). Exploring the legislative history of youth justice and the development of the youth justice practice from 1997 onwards. Until 1908 there was no separate court which dealt with young offenders. The children act 1908 was developed and this led to the creation of the juvenile courts, however these courts were presided over by the same magistrates who sat in the adult courts and their formation showed very little understanding of the reasons why children and young people commit crime and also that the needs of children and young people who stand before the courts may be different from those of adults (Dugmore et al, 2006). According to Dugmore et al (2006) it was stated that it could be argued that there was some confusion which arouse at the inception stage between the different approaches which needed to be used when dealing with those children and young people who had committed offences and also those who where just in need of care. The 1908 Childrens Act gave the court authority over both care and criminal issues. Due to the judicial body having control over both the depraved (criminals) and the deprived (children in care) this Act gave birth to the system paying more attention to the process of distinguishing between the different types of young people who came before the juvenile justice system and by difference we mean those young people who deserved to be punished and those young people in need of help and care. The next momentous piece of legislation is the Children and Young Persons Act 1933. Goldson (2008) stated that: This Act aimed to strengthen certain enactments relating to young persons under the age 18 years in particular and The Children and young persons Act 1933 acted and revised measures relating to the protection of and employment of children generally and to criminal proceedings in particular. According to Dugmore (2006), the Act was passed as a result of the Maloney committee (Home office, 1927) which contained a blend of positivist and classicist explanations in children and young people. In this report, it was stated that law breaking was seen as a deliberate act of defiance, which had to be dealt with in the formality of the court and its Sanctions. However, it is recognised that delinquent behaviour may be caused by environmental and psychological factors that were beyond the young persons control. The 1933 Act played an important role in establishing what became known by many professionals such as social workers and others as the Welfare principle, however, Goldson (2008) suggests that much of this large and important legislation has since been transformed or discontinued. Even though this seems to be the case some of the sections of this 1933 legislation is still valuable and better still a majority it was very much still in use until recently. Section 44 of the Act is still regarded as very important for children and young people in court proceedings this is because it states in this section that the court shall have regard to the welfare of the child or young person who stands before it this principle also applies to the crown prosecution service and it is considered to be a weak principle compared to the paramouncy principle which is in 1989 Children Act. It was sated in this Act that the childs welfare must be the factor which determines the courts decision when it comes to the upbringing of a child (Goldson, 2008). Goldson (2008) stated that it was suggested that the duty to have regard means that consideration is provided with regards to the interests of the child or young person, the crown and youth magistrates courts can legally give precedence to other interests such as the need to prevent re-offending and to protect the public. However, this legislation stressed the need for the Juvenile courts to deal with children separately and whilst treating them differently. The Ingle by Report (1960) which is known as the report of the Home Office Departmental Committee on Children and Young persons was responded to by the Government through the introduction of a new piece of legislation which is the Children and Young persons Act 1963 and this legislation is mainly applicable to England and Wales. There are two provisions of this act and number one is concerned with the age of criminal responsibility meaning the minimum age of which a child may be charged with a criminal offence. In this report, it was recommended that age for criminal responsibility in both England and Wales should be raised from 8 to 12 years with the responsibility of a further rise to 13 to 14 at some time in the future. However the then Conservative government refused and by way of compromise increased the age of responsibility to 10. The Children and Young Persons Act 1969 according to Pickford (2006) is considered to be the most welfare orientated established with regards to the treatment of juvenile offenders. This Act was introduced by the Labour government which was in power at that time. It is stated that some of the more welfare orientated provisions of the Act such as the proposal to allow local authorities to deal with juvenile delinquents by using methods such as supervision, arranging care and raising the age of criminal responsibility to 14. These proposals never came into force due to the incoming Conservative government which refused to implement these ideas, however during that same period in Scotland there was little opposition to the Welfare Model of youth justice as proposed by the Kilbrandon in Scotland (Home office, 1964) as cited in (Pickford, 2006). The 1969 Act granted the criminal court the power to pass a criminal sanction on a young person that in effect amounted to a welfare provision the criminal care order which was abolished in 1989. In this sentence both the deprive and the depraved became one and the welfare measure became a criminal sanction (Muncie, 2004). It is stated by Pickford et al (2006) that this legislation created greater powers of discretion for social work but did nothing to stem a rising flow of custodial disposals. Exploring the Current model of the youth justice policy and philosophy Many academics such as Fionda (2005) and stated that one case in 1993 known as the James Bulger case who was killed by two 10-year-old boys changed the opinion of the public and the direction of the youth justice policy in relation to young offenders. The belief is that the shock of the public which was largely fuelled by the media following the case led to a moral panic about how children and young people were breaking the law Cohen (1973). Some academics for example Jenks (1996) argued that the Bulger case led to the death of childhood innocence and the subsequent demonisation of youth. It is suggested that due to this realisation, children were no longer considered too pure and innocent they were now considered capable of the worst kind of evil ever imagined. The idea that children were born innocent and so need to be protected from a society that is corrupt was abandoned and society adopted the notion that children are born capable of evil and need to be controlled (Hendricks, 2002). Academics such as Brown (2005) have agreed that the medias portrayal of young offenders allegedly being treated softly by the juvenile justice system swung the political and publics opinion towards a period of getting tough on youth criminality. Public statistics suggest that the number of young offenders aged 10 to 17 found guilty r cautioned of an indictable offence fell by 30percent between 1987 and 1997. According to Nacro (1999) since 1987, the number of male juvenile offenders has fallen by 33% and female young offenders by 17%. Pickford (2006) highlighted that the frenzy about the problem of youth crime appears to make little sense when the statistical data for that period analysed. The number of young people receiving custodial sentences during that period rose, whilst the number of young offenders detained under sentence fell by approximately 50 per cent between 1980 and 1993. Statistics show that these figures then rose up by at least 56 per cent in the four years leading u p to 1997. Together with the hysteria caused by the media the rise in the figures worked well with the development of a definition called persistent offender over this era and also the getting tough policies which related to the individuals put in this category. In the run up to the 1997 electione political debate surrounding the general election promised a law and order agenda from all major parties. Labours promise was to get tough on crime as well as the causes of crime and this included youth crime. In this period the government in power (Labour Party) established a youth crime task force and the momentum for reform of the criminal justice continued. As a result of this reform seven consultation papers were released and five of those papers related directly to youth justice. These five consultation paper relating to youth justice where published by New Labour after its election to government in1997 setting out its proposals for reform (Pickford, 2006). The 1998 Act was passed as a result of those seven papers. The Act was passed by the New Labour government to provide a root and branch overhaul of the youth justice system, which was to be implemented over a number years following the establishment of and feedback from pilot schemes and pathway sites, which tested the ground of the new reforms (Goldson, 2008). Bateman et al (2005) stated that according to the then Homer secretary Jack Straw the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 represented one of the most radical shake up of youth justice in 30 years. The Criminal justice provisions promised victims of crime a voice in the outcome of criminal cases, while the new civil measures offered to empower middle England by handing it the legal and administrative means to re-establish order and civility in its communities. The entire system was to be vigorously managed at a local level to ensure that it all joined up and offered best value to the public. Section 37 of the 1998 Act emphasized the primary aim of prevent and it states that: It shall be the principal aim of the youth justice system to prevent offending by children and young people (Goldson, 2008). Under this section a duty is placed on all personnel working within the youth justice area to have regard to this very important aim while carrying out their duties. The Home office Juvenile Offenders Unit in order to deliver this principal aim set out a number of key objectives are: Encouragement of reparation. Reinforcement of parental responsibilities. Intervention into risk factors including family, social, personal and health factors. Tackling delays- halving how long it takes for young offenders to be passed from arrest to sentence from an average of 142 days in 1996 to a target of 71 days. Confronting the young offenders with the consequences of their offending and encouraging responsibility for actions. Introduction of a new range of penalties in order to enable those who enforce punishments to punish in proportion to the seriousness and persistence of offending. The Crime and Disorder Act 1998 set out six key themes which would assist with achieving the objectives set out above. Section 41 of the act related to the national framework and it set up a framework for the national Youth Justice Boards operation this was aim at encouraging and monitoring nationwide consistency in the implementation of the system of youth justice whilst ensuring goods standards for good practice and good delivery of the service. Section 73 established a new detention and training order which was implemented in April 2000. This order is claimed to be a constructive and flexible custodial sentence with a clear focus on preventing re-offending behaviour. The order can be used by both youth and crown courts in respect of all young offenders under the age of 18years who have been found guilty of an offence that if committed by an adult would be an imprisonable offence. The sentence is split into two half is spent in detention and the other half under supervision is the community (Dugmore, 2006). Section 8 of the act created a parenting order made applicable to the parents of those convicted offenders under the Criminal Justice Act 1991. The new order combines requirements of parents to fit in with their individual situation. However the order may place specific responsibilities on a parent such as ensuring their child attends school everyday. Section 6 and 7 encourages the development of local partnerships to provide a method for identifying Crime and Disorder problems within a local framework in a particular area. Section 67 brought in the reparation order which was designed to help young people who offend to face up to the consequences of their offending behaviour. Section 69, 11, 14 and 65 all of these orders are to do with tackling offending behaviour and providing early intervention for young people (Dugmore, 2006). The Youth Justice Criminal Evidence Act 1999 which was amended by the Powers of The criminal Courts Act 2000 helped achieve the proposals of reform which were outlined in the 1997 White Paper No more excuses (Home Office, 1997d). It is said by Crawford et al (2003) that the act created what is known as a referral order which was compulsory and meant for young people convicted for the first time. With this referral order, a young person is referred to a youth offender panel (YOP) which consists of members of the local community and it is put together by youth offendings teams. This order can be served for periods of between 3 months to a year. Under this order, a contract is drawn up with the young offender and their parents specifying the details of the order. The contracts are made specifically to suit the needs of the young person involved. The referral order is also designed to address the young persons offending behaviour in order to help prevent them from re-offending. The order must include preparation and can at time involve community work, contact with the victim, mediation and participation in education programmes or individual activities. The belief is that once the order is completed, the young persons offence has been spent for the purpose of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Other significant legislative changes Fionda (2005) suggests that following the 1998 and 1999 Acts there has been no statute specifically addressing youth justice practice that has been passed, meaning that many of the reforms are still being considered to be fairly new by experienced youth justice practitioners. However there have been other statutes which have been passed which cover criminal justice and these have had impact on youth disorder and criminal justice procedures. Youth imprisonment within its current model and philosophy The writer Jewkes (2010) suggested that in contemporary Britain there has been an emergence of the adultified child and this is due to the high rate teenage pregnancies, children winning the right to divorce their parents, children being tried in adult courts and many more. It is argued that in England and Wales children are criminalized at a much earlier age and also they are more inclined to lock children up, compared to other countries such as Belgium, Austria, France and many others. It is claimed that in England and Wales twice as many children are put into custody (Goldson, 2003). According to jewkes (2010) one could claim that since the teenage rebellions of the 1980s and 1960s, the age at which young people may be designated folk devils has decreased. However since the beginning of 1990s there have been regular reports about the pre-teenage children committing very serious offences such as burglary, rape and many others (Jewkes, 2010). The age of criminal responsibility in England and Wales is 10 years which means anyone aged 10 and above can be held criminally responsible for their actions. Between 2000- 2010 provisional data showed that young people have committed 201,800 offences even though they make up only 11 percent of the population which is above the age of criminal responsibility. It is estimated that offending by all young people cost the economy 8.5 11 billion pounds in 2009 alone. The crimes most committed by young offenders and which they are commonly convicted of are theft and violence. However even though these young people havent been offending for a long time compared to adult offenders it has been noted that at least a third of those young offenders been previously been convicted, warned or reprimanded in relation to an offence (National Audit Office, 2010). It is claimed by the National Audit Office (2010) that they has been a 14 percent reduction in the number of young people held in custody over a duration of five years. Although at times in some cases the use custody is deemed necessary, it is the belief that custody is of limited effectiveness in reducing re-offending behaviour and is considered to be the most expensive sentencing option. It is said that Youth Justice Board is meeting its objective to reduce custody numbers partly through the use of other means which encourage caseworkers to recommend community sentences. CHAPTER TWO: METHODOLOGY In order to gain further knowledge regarding youth offending rehabilitation and imprisonment of young people, the secondary data utilised for this work includes, reports, internet sources, papers, journal articles, textbooks and reports published by the Home Office, Nacro. There are a vast number of ways that data can be obtained. As suggested by Clifford and Gough (1990) when considering the data collection, method selected is compatible and appropriate to both the aims and the theoretical framework being used by the study. METHODS FOR DATA COLLECTION There are two major approaches to gather information these are secondary data and primary data. This study will use secondary data because it is readily available and it takes less time than using primary data. Primary research is very time consuming in terms of establishing samples, arranging and completing interviews, and the collecting and processing data. It is stated by Bryman (2008) that secondary data is the most common research method used by social science researchers today. According to Bryman (2008, p296) secondary data involves the processing of data that has already been collected by other parties or researchers. With this method of research, researchers will consult previous studies and findings such as books, reports, appropriate internet sources such as Youth Justice Board, Nacro, Her Majestys Inspectorate of Prisons, journals and many more. Academic books, journal articles and reports used throughout this dissertation, provided an excellent method of gathering secondary data from well established and respected authors for example Professor John Muncie, Tim Bateman and Professor Pitts. Literature suggests that most secondary data uses qualitative methods, so the research method used would be mainly qualitative. However, qualitative methods aim to study people in their natural social settings and to collect naturally occurring data. Qualitative describes in words rather than numbers. This is opposed to quantitative data which as the manipulation of numerical data through statistical procedures for the purpose of describing phenomena or assessing the magnitude and reliability of relationships among them (Bryman, 2008). Quantitative allows us to see when, where and which social conditions are most likely to create the situations in which young offenders find themselves which in turn encourage them to offend. Qualitative methods on the other hand, can help us develop an understanding of the complexities of young peoples behaviour attitudes and in the context of their experiences whilst in custody in preparation for when they are released back into the community. Qualitative method is for this current study because quantitative research is more concerned with collecting and analysis of data that focus on numbers and frequencies rather than on experience or meaning. In contrast to the research topic, qualitative method helps to develop an understanding of young peoples attitudes, experiences and feelings. As noted they are many reasons why young people re-offend and why custody is used as method of rehabilitation. Understanding these reasons will be a key target for researchers if we are to understand issues around custody, rehabilitation programmes and re-offending of young people in the future. ETHICAL ISSUES Ethical issues had to be taken into account, even though the writer did not use primary research in the study. There is a procedure which requires all participants of the research to give informed consent before conducting any research. Participants must be fully made aware of the nature and procedures of the research. The information given during interviews must remain confidential and not presented to those not directly involved in the study. The British Sociology of Criminologys guidelines on ethics for researchers have been consulted and no ethical issues were noted in relation to the nature of this secondary research project. CHAPTER THREE: OFFENDING BEHAVOIUR PROGRAMMES The main task for youth justice managers and practitioners is to make certain the selection of offender oriented programmes which have been proven to be mainly effective or at least show that in the future they can chive the main goal. Bloom (2006) formulated some questions which are central to the assessment of what works he states What social programs, policies and interventions work? For whom do they work, and under what conditions? And why do they work- or fall short? (Bloom, 2006). What are the offending behaviour programmes? One could claim that that there are two fundamental ways in which to change a young persons behaviour by changing either or both the environment in which he or she hangs or lives in and also by changing the actual individual. It has been highlighted that the most important cause of criminality amongst young people who offend is their individual characteristics whilst for others it is their environment be it the community, home life and much more (Wikstrrom et al, 2008). COGNITIVE BEHAVIOURAL THEARPY (CBT) The idea of CBT is that if you can change the way a person be it male or female perceives and thinks about the social settings they come across and their actions, you can change that persons behaviour. This prevention model suggests that cognition is significant for behaviour and short-term interventions can change young peoples cognition in a way that significantly impacts their offending (Wikstrom et al, 2007). CBT is a fairly new intervention type which has began from advances in the understanding of the role of internal cognition in the expression of external behaviours. In the past three decades according to Leschied (2002) cognitive science and neuropsychology have advanced rapidly bringing a new awareness of how the ways in which persons feel and think influences how they react to the settings in which they take part. This progression is claimed to have revolutionised thinking in the field of criminology. The study of the causes of crime has extended to the causal chain from internal to environmental influences through attention and perception. It is suggested that successfully influencing elements in behaviour and crime causation can have significant and a long-term impact on how individuals choose to act (Wikstrom, 2006). CBT is built around the idea that cognition affects behaviour which also includes offending behaviour. It is believed that individuals have the capacity to monitor and adapt their ways of thinking, which can change how they react to those settings. Hollin (1990) extended this theory by suggesting that offenders may think and feel differently than non-offenders and that this difference in cognition may be the causal link to their offending behaviour. However there are many different types of cognitive behavioural interventions which aim to correct distorted, deficient and dysfunctional cognition which may reinforce offending behaviour by teaching new cognitive skills such as self awareness, moral reasoning, interpersonal perception and many more which increase awareness of the link between thought processes and maladaptive behaviours, and support an individuals ability to actively change those processes in a more positive way (Wilson et al, 2005). Coyle (2005) stated that cognitive behavioural interventions can affect different areas of cognition and behaviour example which may be target are for example decision making, emotional characteristics of behaviour. Areas which are commonly addressed by CBT are victim impact, anger management, moral reasoning social skills training cognitive restructuring, relapse prevention and much more. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) within Young Offender Institutions (YOI). Wilson et al (2005) states that within Young offender institutions CBTs are usually delivered in groups of 8 to 12 offenders. One of the most commonly use interventions applied in YOI are Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT), which is a moral reasoning intervention, which targets moral developments and is delivered in groups of between 10 and 15 participants, Reasoning and Rehabilitation (RR), a cognitive skills training intervention, which is delivered in groups of six to eight participants. There are also other therapies which according to Kurtz (2002) are deemed to be popular and effective these therapies include Aggression Replacement Training (ART), which include anger management, moral reasoning elements and other cognitive skills training interventions, which target awareness of thinking patterns, the perceived legitimacy of offending behaviour and problem solving skills to encourage consideration of alternatives. MULTI-SYSTEMIC THERAPY (MST) MST focuses on the need for changes in an offenders immediate social environments such as their family. School and peer environments, the aim is to help reduce or prevent their problematic behaviour and offending. It is the belief that offenders do not act in a social vacuum and their criminality is an outcome of their interaction with the social environment. It is claimed for example that it may be easier to change an offenders moral values and habits that support law breaking by also changing those aspects of the individuals environment that may influence or support such values (Wikstrom and Treiber, 2008). The writer Borduin et al (2003) said that MST was developed specifically to treat youths with serious offending and behaviour problems. MST is aimed youths aged between 10-17 years. It is individualised intervention programme which is intensive and targets the social systems in which a young person who offends operates. MST views offending behaviour as a consequence of the link between individuals and the external systems in which they partake in socially. The primary goal for MST is to promote multi-faceted change in individual, school, neighbourhood and familial variables which influence offending There are two theoretical explanations of which MST draws up, the first is Bronfenbrenners human ecology theory which suggests that there is a link b

Effects of television on children Essay

Every day for the few decades; children have been subjected to the harmful messages of advertisers on television. There is some discussion in the literary works over the years at which adolescent children can distinguish television broadcasts from programs, and when they can conjure up and want what they lay their eyes on and when they are able to figure out that the advertiser’s goal is to sell a manufactured product. Resolution of the dispute has been hindered by methodological difficulties and models which fail to fully apprehend and figure out children’s acknowledgments to advertisements. This research uses a book and ecologically accurate method of searching how toy advertising act on children by studying their demands sent to Santa Claus, monitoring game commercials and obtaining television viewing data. Eighty children aged from 5 to 7 years, who had set forth the messages to Father Christmas, were consulting with looking upon the extent and quality of their television viewing. Reports and related data were also analyzed for 16 nursery school kids, aged 4 to 5 years, using survey replies from their parents. Overall, kids who observed more commercial television were found to call for a larger number of things from Santa Claus. These kids also demanded more branded items than kids who watched less. Without Regard To, the children’s demands did not agree significantly with the most every now and then advertised game merchandise on television during the build up to Christmas. An accurate relationship was founded between watching television solely and number of demands. The Effects of Television on Children Television was invented eighty five years ago by a farm boy named Philo by mistake, now it’s one of the main sources of entertainment, education and problems worldwide. At many different ages, kids observe and understand television in many different ways. In broad, it depends on their consideration and attention, the method they use to help process information and data, their attentiveness to that specific information, and, of course, their own experiences in life itself. Television, movies, series and advertising can affect our society significally and particularly our children. The huge amount of impact that’s caused by different aspects such as how many kids watches television and whether alone or with adults, as well as whether parents discuss what they see on television with their children. Children’s age and personality are also very important factors that help influence the amount of television impact. Television has both positive and negative influences on children. Television has brought many changes to the way children spend their free time. While some of these changes have been good and beneficial, others have had a harmful effect. Thus, the job of this paper is to investigate the positive and negative effects of television on our children who in the course of time will be our future generations. Television has an enormous impact on how children see the world in general. Kids waste more time watching TV than they spend on their school work. Kids and teens between 8 and 18 spend at least 4 hours a day in front a television screen and almost 2 additional hours on the computer (outside school work) and playing video games (â€Å"Kaiser Family Foundation†). Television viewing takes away the time a kid needs to develop very important skills like his own native language, social skills, imagination and most importantly creativity. School kids who watch too much television tend to work less on their homework. When children do homework with a TV in the background, they tend to absorb little information and fewer skills (â€Å"Parenting early years†). According to language and speech expert Dr. Sally Ward, 20 years of research and commitment show that children who are harassed by background television noises in their houses have problems paying attention to voices and calls when there is also a background noise. Television viewing takes away time from writing and improving reading skills through practice (â€Å"Psychology Today Magazine†). Children watching cartoons and series and entertainment television during pre-school years have lower pre-reading skills at age 5. Kids who tend to watch entertainment television are also less likely to read books and other types of media (â€Å"Parenting Early Years†). Television has become a huge part of a child’s life for the past few decades, and there is an argue that there is a link between a kid’s abnormal or aggressive behavior and television violence. Eighty percent of television programs include violence. In addition, it is important that children spending their leisure time in watching television should be controlled by the parents (Judith and Lawrence, 2004). TV violence does not just affect a child’s adolescence; it also affects his or her adulthood. It also can destroy a kid’s mind; the effects can be long lasting and ceaseless. Many psychologists feel that the continuous disclosure to television violence might unnaturally accelerate the impact of the adult world on the child leading him or her to early matureness. As the kid matures into a grown up, he can become frightened, have a greater mistrust towards others, a shallow oncoming to adult problems, and even the unwillingness to become an adult (Judith and Lawrence, 2004). Television includes many acts of violence and destruction not just in violent movies, but also in night news, cartoons and stand up comedies. Studies taken show that television violence makes children less sensitive, cruel, cold hearted, rude, lacking consideration for other and more aggressive. Watching violence on television reduces the sensibility of kids to real demeanor of vehemence. Other studies connect newspapers and TV publicity of suicides to a high risk of suicide that can be committed by children (TV’s harmful effects of kids). In many diverse ways video vehemence can turn into actual violence. As interpreted atop, when kids observe a bit too much television violence the world becomes bland in comparison. Children need to create violence to keep them contented (Erica and George, 2010). Also kids like to imitate fictional and non-fictional characters on television and find it fun. Kids also love to portray models on television and movies because the ideas that are shown to him are more alluring to the spectator than the ones he can think up himself (â€Å"Psychology Today Magazine†). Fictional characters are being imitated widely around the globe like for example power rangers and Ben 10 which children cannot seem to get enough of. Television violence effects are mostly seen and apparent in big cities; aggressive behavior was more admissible in the big cities as long as the child’s popularity was not hindered by his or her aggression (Judith and Lawrence, 2004). In the major cities, violence, felonies and crimes are unavoidable and expected therefore is left unchecked. Many researches were conducted into the topic of children and television violence and in the end pointed and lead to the same direction. There is an indisputable relationship between aggression and television violence. The outcome was acquired in a survey of London schoolchildren in 1975. Greensburg found a significant connection between the viewing of violence and aggression (Erica and George, 2010). In this area the government has made many researches. An experiment was conducted where kids were left alone in a room with a videotape monitoring other kids playing and having fun. Kids who had just seen commercial vehemence accepted many superior levels of aggression than other kids. After quite some time, things got out of hand â€Å"and progressive mutilation began to take place†. The results were published in a report. Sergon Generals report found some† preliminary indications of a causal relationship between aggression and television viewing conduct in kidsâ€Å"(Psychology Today Magazine). During our time it is noticed and observed that extremely coarse and rude programs on television standardize high aggressiveness, shortage of consideration of others, shortage of politeness and respect and public coarseness. All such behavior without doubt influences the conduct of kids in our community. In other researches among United States kids, it was discovered that violence, academic problems, unpopularity with peer and aggression feed off each other. This encourages vehemence behavior in the kids (Television’s Impact on Kids). The combination of continued Television watching and aggression lead to low scholastic standings as well as unpopularity. All these can easily cause more aggression and malicious cycles to begin spinning (Television’s Impact on Kids). Viewing some programs may cause irresponsible sexual behavior in kids (â€Å"Psychology Today Magazine†). Pictures of hypersexual behavior, accidental sexual clashes without any common consequences, made use of programs for example such as BBC’s â€Å"Are You Hot OR NOT? † and sex exploitation in advertising may cause negative consequences for kids. Such movies, programs and TV shows cause very young people to have early sexual relation. Such sexual behavior becomes normal for many young kids with time, though many of them may be a bit mentally and physically traumatized by early sexual issues. In spite the fact that telly can be a very strong method of educating kids about the hazards and liability of sexual behavior, such issues as sexually transmitted infections like AIDS and HIV and unwanted pregnancy are rarely debated in programs with genital content (â€Å"Television’s Impact on Kids†). Research states that kids who spend more time on television are inclined to think that women and men have particular roles in our community (TV’s harmful effects on kids). It is apparent that TV usually shows women as weak and obedient in collation with some men who are usually described as dominating and rigid (TV’s harmful effects on kids). It may provide kids with a full comprehension of what they are awaited in the near future. Impact on self-image, specifically for teenagers, is crucial and well documented. The negative consequences caused by television over the last 10 years in regard of self-image are high increases in bulimia, depression, self-mutilation, eating disorders, and anorexia Watching too much television of any kind has evident psychological and physiological negative outcomes on kids. In Biology it is known as the  «couch potato » syndrome. A lot of studies show that even mild television content reduces imagination and creativity of kids, which in return increases obesity, physical activity, and laziness. In supplement, it leads to inferior grades in school, reduced ability to manage stress and conflict, and offensive behavior in connection with peers. And for your information, obesity in childhood can be highly encouraged by junk food advertised on television to children. Violent shows and late-TV watching has been known to be associated with sleep problems in kids. The emotional stress caused from too much night shows prevent kids from dreaming and may eventually result in nightmares. In supplement, incorrect samples of sleep during the night can easily push kids to be less alert within the day; also advancing poor performance in school (â€Å"Television’s Impact on Kids†). It is very important to know that too much television watching may have a bad impact on academic and learning execution of kids (â€Å"Television’s Impact on Kids†). Especially it is apparent if the time of television viewing replaces healthy mental and physical exercises. Most part of children’ free time must be spent in such activities as exploring nature, playing music and sports, and reading (â€Å"Television’s Impact on Kids†). Besides, the time of TV watching significantly cut back contact with family and companions (Judith and Lawrence, 2004). It is important to take into account the impact of commercialism. There are a number of manipulative commercial messages on television and even at school almost every day. Companies aspire to manipulate kids and with this they tend to hire psychologists to help influence kids. This is called the  «art of winemaking.  » The redundant number of commercial messages has produced a chronic anxiety in teenagers, and many psychologists bear in mind that these messages have raised depressions in kids. The other invalidating effect is that advertising on television raises a claim to acquire something like for example toys. Quite A few studies declare that parents carry on a primary role in social learning of their kids, but if the parent views are not discussed with their children, the medium may instruct and have an impact on them by absence (â€Å"Impact of media use on children and youth†). An example in an account from the American Academy of Pediatrics Task Force on Children and Television, it was decided that: â€Å"Television watching promotes an attraction toward vehemence, an apathy when real vehemence is seen, passive learning, provides unrealistic messages regarding substance abuse (drugs, alcohol, and tobacco), and also encourages the use of tobacco, alcohol, and drugs, and by delivering an unrealistic way of problem-solving and/or dispute resolution and it is linked with obesity because of  «snacks with high calories » pulmonary consumption† (â€Å"Television’s Impact on Kids†). Some specialists, however, believe that television is not all that evil. They restrict though that watching television can be good if it is done in balance, and if the program being viewed is chosen some television shows can inform, inspire and educate. It can be more useful than audiotapes and books in teaching your child about methods like how to bake a cake or how to plant a plant. Studies show that children who view non-violent and educational children’ shows do better at reading, writing and math examinations than those who do not follow these programs. Kids who watch informative and educational presentations as preschoolers tend to view more educational and informative presentations when they get older. They deal with television effectively as a complement to school learning. On the other hand, children who view more entertainment programs tend to view fewer educational programs as they grow older (â€Å"Television’s Impact on Kids†). Kindergarteners who watch educational programs tend to have superior grades, value their studies more and tend to be more aggressive before and after they reach high school, according to a short-term study (â€Å"Television’s Impact on Kids†). Finally, scientists from the University of Siena found out that children experience a painkilling, soothing result by watching cartoons. So there is no harm in watching a little entertainment television here and there, and can be a source of relaxation for children who are in pain or stressed. Conclusion In summary, the viewing and watching of television causes an important impact on the behavior and development of children of all ages. The Television set may have both negative and positive for children of all ages, and many researches have paid peculiar regard to the television percussion on our community and, in particular, our children. Today there is an extraordinary mission to stop the negative impact of television on kids. It is clear that quality-aligned programming for kids must be produced in the approaching future. Furthermore, speaking to kids at their homes with their families together and in school with their instructors about their favorite programs and many other popular programs and films can help kids get a better understanding of things on television and on the world itself. Thus, parents are the greatest impact on the lives of their kids and as their duty must control the state and try to manage their television view. Since we will never be able to convince the mass-media to narrow down advancing sex and vehemence, especially, on television, we can aspire to comply with what our children are subjected and handle them and talk with them about the programs they pay attention to, especially if they are with negative content. Research Sites I. http://freeresearchprojects. blogspot. ae/2012/02/research-paper-on-television-and. html II. http://www. essayforum. com/writing-feedback-3/television-has-brought-positive-negative-effects-children-28297/ III. http://www. odec. ca/projects/2005/kaiser family foundation/zerb5m0/public_html/positiveEf. html IV. http://www. raisesmartkid. com/all-ages/1-articles/13-the-good-and-bad-effects-of-tv-on-your-kid V. Television and Child Development by: Judith Van Evra. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 2004 (3rd edition) VI. Media and the American Child by: George Comstock and Erica Scharrer. VII. Psychology Today Magazine: Psychological effects of television. VIII. Parenting Early Years: TV’s harmful effects of kids. IX. http://www. med. umich. edu/yourchild/topics/tv. htm X. http://kidshealth. org/parent/positive/family/tv_affects_child. html

Elements of Gothic Literature Essay

Gothic literature was born in 1764 when Horace Walpole published The Castle of Otranto, which is considered to be the first gothic novel ever written. Gothic literature was originally written as a reaction to the age of reason, order, and the politics of eighteenth-century England. Containing anti-Catholic sentiments and mythical aspects, Gothic literature explored the tension between what we fear and what we desire. The stories were usually set in some kind of castle or old building that showed human decay and created an atmosphere of mystery and suspense. Often, one of the main characters would be some sort of damsel in distress, threatened by some man. The words chosen in these novels and short stories were very descriptive, creating overwrought emotion and often, feelings of gloom and horror. Also, within the plot, some sort of ancient prophecy, along with omens and visions, could usually be found. The most important elements to the structure of canonical gothic literature, however, are supernatural and unexplainable events. In The Castle of Otranto, much of the plot surrounds one unexplainable incident: a giant black helmet falls on Prince Conrad, thus killing him. Because of Prince Conrad’s death, Manfred, his father, captures a passing peasant, Theodore, and pursues Isabella, Conrad’s fiancee. Later, it is learned that Jerome (the minister) is Theodore’s father. If the helmet had never fallen on Conrad, Manfred never would have stopped Theodore, and Jerome would never have found his long lost son. Manfred, still believing that Theodore is guilty of dropping the helmet by sorcery, is ready to execute him. At this point in the story, Isabella’s long lost father appears, which halts Theodore’s execution. It is later learned that Isabella’s father found her because a dream he had led him to a monk, who led him to Otranto. The supernatural event here is the dream, which turned out to forecast reality. He accuses Manfred of not being the rightful ruler of Otranto. Eventually, everything is confirmed when the giant version of Alfonso the Good that has been living in the castle (another mysterious incident) breaks through the walls and proclaims Theodore the natural heir of Alfonso and the rightful ruler of Otranto. The Ruins of the Abbey of Fitz-Martin, whose author remains anonymous, also has a similar dependency on a chain of supernatural events. Sir Thomas Fitz-Martin acquires an abbey, which he finds in ruins. He is certain it can be repaired, so he and his people venture inside. Upon exploring the abbey, Fitz-Martin opens a door with difficulty, only to be met with severe shrieks from inside that particular room. Later in the story, the superstition surrounding those screams is explained. Evidently, every night, the ghost of St. Anna can be seen walking up to the altar. She stays there until midnight, and then walks to the south tower. She screams three times, and the ghost of the evil Baron, who possessed the abbey years before, comes. Then, Anna chases him with a â€Å"fire-brand† in one hand and a dead baby in her other arm. The two ghosts eventually come to the Baron’s old room, where â€Å"dismal yells and dying groans† can be heard from. Fiery lights surround the Baron’s old room until the clock that hasn’t been touched in years strikes two, or sometimes three o’clock. This story of supernatural occurrence strikes the curiosity of Rosaline, Sir Thomas Fitz-Martin’s daughter, who then decides to go investigate the south tower. When she does, she finds the torture chamber where they killed St. Anna so many years ago. She is debating whether or not to go in, when she hears a voice commanding her to enter. She feels almost possessed, as the voice tells her to reach inside the coffin. When she does, she pulls something out and takes it with her, fleeing in terror. It is the supernatural phenomenon of this voice that brings in St. Anna’s story, which is written on the papers with which Rosaline fled in terror. The Vampyre by John Polidori casts an interesting slant on the element of supernatural events. The entire story is a supernatural event because Lord Ruthven is a vampire, a supernatural creature. Before this is revealed to the reader, however, there are important unexplainable events that allude to his being a vampire and are of utmost importance to the story. It is the mystery of Lord Ruthven’s appearance that first attracts Aubrey to him, and thus begins the story. Aubrey wants to get to know him better, hopefully to  understand the enigma of his demeanor. They leave on a trip together, and Aubrey notices that Lord Ruthven is extremely charitable. He also notices, though, that Lord Ruthven always gives his money to the scoundrels of society, those who will piddle away the charity pursuing their vices. Then he realizes that all who receive money from Lord Ruthven end up far worse than they were before the charity. Although Aubrey cannot explain this, it intrigues him and makes him wonder if there isn’t a spark of evil in Lord Ruthven. Some time later, Aubrey receives letters from his sister and his guardians. The letter from his sister is very loving, but the letter from his guardians bears only bad and mysterious news. They tell him that his traveling companion is pure evil, that all the women at home that he wooed because of their virtues, have now come forth and shown that they are tainted, and pursue their vices publicly. The people of their town find this unexplainable and very unnerving. He was suspicious of Lord Ruthven’s evil before, but upon reading the letter, Aubrey decides that he must leave Lord Ruthven for the remainder of the trip. Aubrey travels to Greece, where he stays with a kind family and falls in love with their daughter, Ianthe, although he does not act on it. It is here that he learns the legend of the vampire. One day he goes to a place to research, and they tell him to be back before dark because of the vampire. He loses track of time and it is soon dark. He hears a scream and runs toward it. He finds a hut, and picks up a dagger that is inside. However, he is too late. Ianthe was murdered by the vampire. Aubrey falls into a fever and Lord Ruthven returns to him and nurses him back to health. Soon after this, they are attacked by robbers and Lord Ruthven is wounded. He dies, but makes Aubrey promise to him that he will not speak a word of his death. When Aubrey goes back for Lord Ruthven’s body, it is gone, and the robbers tell Aubrey that they had to put it in the moonlight the first night of Lord Ruthven’s death. They go to where they left the corpse, but it has mysteriously disappeared. Aubrey decides that it is time to go home. On his way home, he goes through Lord Ruthven’s things and finds a shaft that matches the dagger he found in the hut exactly. This confirms for Aubrey  that Lord Ruthven is the vampire. When he arrives home, his sister holds a drawing-room. Here, Aubrey is snatched by the arm and told to ‘remember his oath.’ Aubrey is dumbfounded because Lord Ruthven is supposed to be dead, but here he is, pursuing his sister. This drives him into a terrible fever. During this fever, he figures out that his sister is engaged to Lord Ruthven and fears for her. He tries to stop the wedding, but everyone thinks that he is crazy and dismisses him. His sister is killed at the end of the story. The fact that Lord Ruthven is a supernatural creature accounts for all of the supernatural events and the entire story. If he was not a vampire, his demeanor would never have attracted Aubrey initially, and Aubrey never would have gone traveling with Lord Ruthven. Had Aubrey not gone traveling with him, he never would have discovered that Lord Ruthven was a vampire, and gone crazy. If Aubrey had not gone crazy, he would have been able to stop the wedding and save his sister’s life. Supernatural and unexplainable events are crucial to the plot of a gothic story. Often, they act as the backbone of the plot and many of the circumstances and coincidences rest upon them. In The Castle of Otranto, they act as the coincidence drivers as well as supply some of the omens and visions, another element of gothic literature. They bring the real story to the surface in The Ruins of the Abbey of Fitz-Martin, and provide the foundation for the story in The Vampyre. Without the element of supernatural and unexplainable events, much of the canonical gothic literature would not stand on its own.